Members of the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America are scared they aren’t woke enough and are now considering the creation of an “anti-oppression” task force to recruit folks from minority groups and working-class New York residents. The organization is planning to consider a new resolution that is stuffed like a Hot Head burrito with politically correct messaging during their convention on November 14.
The resolution would create a “Task Force to Promote Equitable Organizing Culture” and force leaders within the organization to undergo diversity training. “NYC-DSA aims to build the power of the socialist movement by growing our base among the multiracial, multigendered working class of our city,” the proposed resolution went on to say.
“DSA has historically faced well-documented challenges recruiting and retaining people of color, and NYC-DSA’s racial makeup does not reflect the racial diversity of our city,” the proposal explained, also making a reference to the proposed group as an “anti-oppression” task force. If the resolution is approved, it would require leadership to take extensive training.
An internal survey uncovered that a whopping 60% of the city’s DSA membership is white, while the Big Apple itself is only 34% white. The chapter states that it has a membership of over 15,000 people. “The chapter will create an Anti-Oppression Task Force supported by the Membership Committee, which will be responsible for supporting leadership and membership to dismantle oppressive systems and combat oppressive practices in the chapter,” the resolution stated, according to the New York Post.
“It is incumbent on NYC-DSA’s leadership to proactively learn about oppressive systems and behaviors, how to dismantle and combat them within the organization, and how to construct an equitable culture that advances our goals of organizing the multiracial, multigendered working class; as well as supporting the full membership to learn about these topics and enact these goals,” the resolution continued.
The DSA has been smarting from the lack of diversity within its ranks and leadership for a long time, despite some of its top candidates being from a variety of races and ethnic backgrounds. For example, its most well-known member, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani is of South Asian descent. Several other candidates who have made it to Congress and positions in the state Legislature include Latina Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Reps.-elect Claire Valdez and Darializa Avila Chevalier.
However, a number of individuals have also blasted the organization for being run by mostly rich white people, despite the group claiming to advocate for minority and working class constituents. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who could potentially be the first black Speaker of the House in 2027, went head-to-head with DSA representatives in his Brooklyn district.
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Several of the group’s members were attending a primary victory party for Rep.-elect Valdez when they threatened Jeffries with a future primary by continuously chanting, “You’re next!” Jeffries told CNN about the incident saying, “It was very interesting to me, as observed by others that there was almost zero diversity in that crowd.”